HILL’S THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTES, —~ i4¢9 
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| CONTROVERSIAL THEOLOGY. 
Aart. XIX. Theological Institutes, in Three Parts: 1. Heads of Lectures in Divinity, 
2. View of the {Constitution of the Church of Scotland. 3. Counsels respecting the 
Duties of the Pastoral Office.” By Geonce Hin, D. D. F.R. S.E. Principal of 
St. Mary’s College, Primarius Professor of Theology in the University of St. Andrew's, 
| and one of the Ministers of that City. 8vo. pp. 444. 
THIS work is presented to: the public 
as a specimen of the instruction, which 
the learned author has been in the habit 
| of addressing, not, we are persuaded, 
without much good effect, to the students 
of his college. “It embraces three ob- 
. jects: the science to which those students 
profess to devote their attention, the 
ecclesiastical constitution of which they 
‘expect to be cfficial guardians, and the 
pastoral duties which they may be called 
to perform.” 
The first part is merely an outline of 
a course of lectures, introductory to the 
‘science of theology. ‘These lectures are 
arranged under the following heads: 
1. Evidences of the Christian Religion. 
2. General View of the Scripture Sys- 
tem, and Plan of analysing it. 3. Opi- 
-_mions concerning the Son, the Spirit, 
: and the Manner of their being united 
with the Father. 4. Opinions concern- 
| ing the Nature, the Extent, and the Ap- 
plication of the Remedy brought by the 
: Gospel. 5. Index of particular Ques- 
tions concerning the Gospel Remedy, 
and of many of the technical Terms 
in Theology. 
_ The following extract will shew the 
“manner in which these lectures are con- 
ducted. 
«« The various sects of Christians, admit- 
ting the fundamental proposition that ‘all 
have sinned,” agree in considering the gospel 
-asaremedy forthe present state of moral 
evil: but they differ in opinion as to the 
nature of the remedy; and their opinions on 
this subject are reducible to three systems, 
which we distinguish by the names of the 
Socinian, the Middle, and the Cathvlic. 
= “J. Socinian system may be learnt from 
riestley. 
” “ Forgiveness is freely dispensed to those 
“who repent, by the essential goodness o 
God, without regard to the sufferings of 
merit of any other being. 
_ Jesus is the messenger of the divine 
grace, who declares that God is merciful 
the instructor of the world, whose death, 
although merely a natural event, was his 
_ testimony to all that he had said; afforded a 
bright example of every virtue; and paved 
_ the way for his resurrection, which ccn- 
firmed the truth of the great promise of i m- 
mortality, by exhibiting to Christians a dead 
man restored to life. 
«© The gospel is understood to save from 
sin, because it is the most effectual lesson 
of righteousness. 
«© This simplest system concerning the 
remedy, cannot be received by those who 
believe in the pre-existence of Jesus; who 
haye a strong apprehension of the evil of 
sin; and who form their opinion of the re- 
medy from the language of Scripture: and 
it does not account for the powers said to be 
given to Jesus after his-tesurrection. 
« ]{. Middle system may be learnt from. 
Balguy’s Essay ov Redemption, Ben Sdor- 
decai's Apology, and Price. 
«« Although God is merciful, a distinction 
eught to be made between the innocent and 
the penitent. Jesus, by the merit of his 
sufferings, acquired a reward not merely 
personal, but the right of saving men from 
their sins, and of giving them immortality, 
John xvii. 2. Heb, 11.9, 10. Acts v. 31. 
«This system preserves the contrast marked 
Rom. y. 9. between the first and second 
Adam ; exhibits an ifjustrious reward of 
transceredant virtue; and checks presump- 
tion, because penitents receive nothing upon 
their own account, the salvation of the hu- 
man race being proemial to the Redeemer. 
« But this system involves the Arian opi- 
nion eoncerning the person of Jesus Christ: 
and, although SSeautiful and pleasing, vet, 
like many other theories, it proceeds upon a 
partial view of facts. 
« TIT. Catholic system, so called because it 
has been generally held in the Christian 
world, enters into the creed of both the estab- 
lished churches of Britain, and is thus ex« 
pressed in our confession: ‘ The Lord Jesus, 
by: his perfect obedience and sacrifice of 
himself, which he, through the Eternal 
Spirit, once offered up unto God, hath fully 
satisfied the justice of his Father; and pur- 
chased not only reconciliation, but an ever- 
lasting inheritance in the kingdom of hea- 
ven,” 
That the mode of teaching theology, 
which is pursued in these lectures, and 
which, with little variation, is generally 
adopted, is however the best, we feel 
something more than doubt: but we 
cannot too much admire, nor too stre- 
nucusly recommend, the spirit of the 
lecturer, who thus addresses his students; 
“ You will derive more benefit from cane 
L 3 
